Kentucky coal miners claim harassment after raising safety concerns

Kentucky – Lawsuits have been filed against Armstrong Coal Co alleging the harassment of welders following the filing of a safety discrimination complaint with federal regulators. As reported by the Huffington Post, coal miner Reuben Shemwell claims in a lawsuit filed last week the company instructed fellow workers to keep tabs on his actions including whether he was “one minute late for work.”

Shemwell’s attorney, Tony Oppegard, is quoted as stating of the matter, “Reuben returned to work in good faith… Before he even got back to work the company was already planning action against him by meeting with all the other welders and telling them when this guy gets back to work you’ve got to document everything he says and does.”

Anthony Young, another welder with Armstrong, joined in Shemwell’s complaints after reportedly expressing concerns about the levels of welding dust in the work environment to supervisors. Both also allege in the complaints that they were monitored for hours a day by a consultant Armstrong hired. The lawsuits have been filed through private lawyers.